Rye Patch

State Recreation Area

About Rye Patch

Open year-round, Rye Patch State Recreation Area is situated on a 22-mile long reservoir that has 72 miles of shoreline and 11,000 acres of water surface when full. Visitors enjoy camping, picnicking, swimming and water-skiing, and fisherman delight in the available white bass, catfish, black bass and walleye. Trails around and throughout the park make it easy to enjoy the waterfowl and wildlife that abound, including hawks, eagles, owls, great egrets, antelope, deer and fox. The park also serves as a popular base camp for off-road vehicles, ghost town exploration and gold prospecting.

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FACILITIES & AMENITIES

Camping: The river campground below Rye Patch Dam has 22 units, a restroom with flush toilets and hot showers. The campground on the reservoir's west side has 25 units, a restroom with flush toilets and hot showers. A sanitary dump station with potable water is located on the dam's west side. A camping limit of 14 days in a 30-day period is enforced.

Picnicking/Day Use: There are two designated, day use picnic areas. The river picnic area has tables, grills and restrooms. The west side group-use and picnic area has space for groups up to 100, with tables, grills, water and restrooms.

Boat Launching: A double-lane boat ramp and dock are next to the campground on the reservoir's west side.

Fishing: Fishing for crappie, wipers, white bass, channel catfish, black bass and walleye is usually best in spring and early summer, with fall being a good season for catfish. Most anglers use worms or liver for catfish, minnows for wipers and jigs for crappie, walleye and bass. Bring your own bait since it often is not available in the area. A Nevada fishing license is required (buy online at ndow.org. See a Health Warningfrom the Department of Wildlife on consumption of fish.

Programs: The annual Rye Patch Nugget Shoot attracts visitors from across the country and across generations who enjoy metal detecting in the great outdoors. View the video of the 2016 Rye Patch Nugget Shoot.
More information about program scheduling may be obtained from either park staff or kiosks. Upon request, special presentations can be arranged for groups.

Hours: Open seven days a week, 365 days a year.

FIELD NOTES

Stay on trails, drive on established roads and observe speed limits. Operators and vehicles must be licensed, and motorcyclists must wear protective headgear. OHV use is allowed on existing roads to access adjacent federal public lands.

Pets are welcome, but they must be kept on a leash of not more than six feet in length.

Removing, disturbing or damaging any historic structure, artifact, rock, plant life, fossil or other feature is prohibited. State and federal laws protect this area and its resources.

The boat speed limit is 5 mph within 100 feet of swimmers and beaches. Boating and fishing are prohibited in buoyed swimming areas.

Fires are allowed only in designated grills and fireplaces.

Fireworks or explosives are prohibited.

Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. - 7 a.m.

Visitors are responsible for knowing all park rules and regulations in effect. Detailed rules and regulations are posted at the park or may be obtained from any Park Ranger.

Those with developmental and/or physical limitations are invited to enjoy all of the recreational activities of Nevada State Parks. If you would like to request additional support or accommodations, please call Nevada State Parks at (775) 684-2770. We continually seek ways to provide recreational opportunities for people of all abilities and welcome any suggestions you may have.

NATURAL RESOURCES/CLIMATE

Rye Patch is located in a trench cut by the Humboldt River and has vegetation consistent with what is found throughout the Great Basin. Sagebrush, grease wood, saltbush, rabbitbrush and great basin wild rye are all abundant throughout the park. (READ MORE)

HISTORY OF RYE PATCH STATE RECREATION AREA – Established in 1971

Thousands of years ago the Rye Patch area’s climate was colder and wetter than it is now. A much larger Humboldt River fed ancient Lake Lahontan, a body of water covering most of the Great Basin. (READ MORE)